There are times when so much change is underway that the forces can be felt pushing from all sides. Weathering this pressure isn’t the real difficulty – performing is.

The mind’s ability to think clearly with focus becomes obscured. At least, this is my experience. Regrettably, without knowing this and remembering too, this becomes stressful and adds to the crisis.

So when it is happening, do your best and go easier on yourself. The change is happening just by virtue of the fact you keep going.

I’m glad to share. I need the reminders too.

The last two weeks I have been quietly withdrawn awaiting a solution to thoughts travelling elsewhere.  Now, Sunday a.m. just before noon and I’m contemplating many things while engaged in Online social media activities. Many friends across the country now connect daily with me. With some it’s a game, with others an email or poke, and with the wonderful lady friends I enjoy flirting with, I feel the energy of the game too.  I notice it, the flirtatiousness, the aliveness, the juice and vibrancy of being glad to be alive, and realize how deeply and tragically I’ve missed it these past two weeks. Now how did this happen?

External circumstances affected thought patterns that triggered emotions, which subsequently repeat the cycle, and as more ambiguous data arrives, the creative centre of the writer’s mind continue to take this tail deeper down the rabbit hole. Oh sh1t. I did it to myself. Yes, external circumstances were a significant contributing factor, however, it is my mind and my resources that chased this created reality based upon my interpretations of the external circumstances. The kicker is, sometimes these things are really none of my business.

There may always be justification to look out beyond our sphere to to some problem-solving and find ways to contribute better toward the whole. Turns out, my occupation and nature lend strongly toward problem-solving, to recognizing trouble and trying to avert it before it comes, and so on. A big-picture thinker, in some specific ways a short-term futurist, and someone with a pulse for sensing things. Yes, a hyper-awareness, a hyper-sensitivity that both get me into all kinds of trouble. And wow did I notice it today and how!

Metaphor is the easiest way I can describe this realization. It is so powerful and so simple, and I know it may even be very challenging for me. Take a book and a television. The book is an adventure of life, much like your very own best-lived life and the energy of excitement, eroticism, joy, and your sexual aliveness thrills you to the core spending time with it. That’s where we want to be – where I want to be! – as often as possible, if not all the time. So how do we get out of it?

Television, another metaphor, takes us out of our own life, life-engagement, attention, and awareness and diverts it somewhere else. Flipping through the channels you’re transported everywhere around the world and your surroundings and never land on You. In the same way, this Big-Picture-Thinker-Nightmare is doing just that – particularly when Red Flags are flapping in the wind. Oh crap! But just like television, I have no control what is happening out there, and I can Turn if Off.

I’d been told this before but it didn’t make sense. I couldn’t see how. Turn it off? Then what? Now I see, the missing link: Turn it On. The Aliveness, get Sexy, Feel it Vibe and Thrive. Keep that Juice going. Reality versus Fantasy? Yes, a tough one. I will muscle and stumble through this one, but it seems to me that the trick will be to segment and schedule life so balance allows room for play.

Not having fun yet? Caught up in worrying about the Big-Picture? The issues at Work? Anywhere?

Turn it Off. Now Turn You On.

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This has been an incredibly busy and fast-changing fall season; at least, for me it has. It’s strange actually, as I suddenly contemplate what next to say, that as I observe the difference of this fall season against the summer, that the fall season seems more frenetic.

First it is the end of summer and getting all of our last minute summer favourite activities squeezed into the final days. Then its think about going back to school, getting kids back to school, getting more serious about activities at work or career, then we watch and participate in Halloween, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, and then we’re rushing toward the final countdown-shopping-days before Christmas.

Honestly, I can’t believe how fast time is flying. As a kid, I would hear other adults say such things, and that time passes quickly. That wasn’t my experience as a kid though, and I’m certain many would remember the same. The summer was long, slow, lazy, fun, fast, exciting, and yet, school was still very far off… until the few days before. Isn’t that the Power of Now?

Too engrossed in the daily moments of life, engaged in activities and lives of people that bring meaning and joy. Pursuing dreams, ambitions, or simply the basics for your own version of a well-lived life. Tomorrow will come, today is sufficient. Somehow, all that crud that gets us all worked up and worried passes, the next day comes and goes, and whether the worries were founded or not, we live to see another day. If we don’t, what’s it really matter at that point? :p

As always, I started writing unsure of what I’d say. I had a thought, “Wow, it’s December already!” and felt like commenting on that. Where it leads from there, and what shows up, is often a surprise. Looking at today’s little sharing of words, I see the wish for your safety, joy, happiness, for this wonderful mad season of shopping, celebrating, people, family, fun, and friends. Notice I left the word stressing out… that is intentional.

Stay safe, have fun, and remember: The worries occupying your mind are blinding your glorious joyful moments right here and now. Don’t waste another second – Go out and have fun. It’s all a mind-game!

Okay, I admit it. Sometimes I can come across as arrogant. In fact, sometimes I probably am acting arrogant. How else could I recognize what I’m about to write?

Recently, I became involved with an organization building community. This transition didn’t come easily for me, having to overcome a number of personal challenges. We could likely agree that challenges are humbling experiences and great growth and learning periods. I’d also say the influence of the time strengthened core values for humanity. So building community is significant to values for humanity.

Engaging in the role, I reach out to members of the community seeking to build bridges, add harmony, increase participation, elevate exposure through promotion, and create win-win for residents, businesses, associations, and neighbours. And why not? That is, after all, what we are here for: To do life together!

So what of the people intent upon their social status, material wealth, personal image, and so on? Don’t get me wrong! I like to dress well, feel good, have a few dollars in my pocket, and have a place that I fit in the world around me. What I’m saying is that I do enjoy these things and want to include and enjoy the ride with others. I just don’t get the guy, gal, person who has blood circulation to the brain sucking the life our of their heart.

Whatever position, wealth, health, etc., life offers you, treat it with respect. In other words, treat yourself and every living thing, person, or opportunity with equal respect. The adage easy come, easy go comes from the wise men and women before who tumbled from great heights. Open the heart, lead with the heart, and forget that idea that something outside of your living body makes you any more special than anyone else.

Love and Life are worth it.

I found the following, written August 17, 2005, related to the same topics I’ve been revisiting recently. If you’ve ever heard of Spiral Dynamics, I mention it since I can see how the more recent experiences have taken me deeper.

In so many areas of life we must always be vigilant of our mental, emotional and physical health. Getting involved or caught up in too much of one thing can create a multitude of problems in life. Out at a networking event recently, I had missed dinner but in true form to the crowd and socializing I purchased my first of many beers. I hadn’t intended to stay as late as I did and nor had I intended to carry-on afterwards at a friend’s place. A little excess can be a good thing once in a blue moon.

Having just come back to reality and work the very next day, I’m able to recognize the hazards of letting myself get all caught up in excess. Another networking event tomorrow evening that will be followed by a photo exhibit at another location, it can get a little crazy if I let it get out of hand. Now this is just my [[experience]] and I’m sure there are others who are not concerned one way or the other. There are many who demonstrate excellent [[self-control]] in many situations. Their weakness may lie elsewhere. I believe we all have a weak spot in our lives.

At the networking event I learned of a dear friend who is over-working himself. The company is insisting he cut back to no more than 2 hours each day of the weekend. I was surprised and not surprised. This guy is very passionate and committed to excellence. The tragedy is that his truest [[artist]] isn’t allowed out to play anymore. I’ve seen some of his work. He’s an incredible artist and that talent is lying dormant crying for release. Our spirit yearns to demonstrate our beauty to the world. This includes the good work he’s doing for his company but not at the expense of the rest of your soul.

Initially, we can completely lose sight of dangers of excess. In the beginning it’s just an exception as it’s a busy week. One week stretches to two or three and before you know it, you’re whole life revolves around work. Or, this week there happened to be more events crammed together, an unusual occurrence. I’m not going to let it get out of hand. But in the past, somewhere along the way, I have lost my sight. I no longer kept my eye on the ball, on the real reason I’m here. How do we express our fullest self?

Everything in moderation, everything in balance; trial and error is a good teacher, learning to juggle, to have patience and trust that the things that need to get done will get done, and ability to remember that you have the power to say no. My focus is not on the danger as much as it is on the [[choice]]. To recognize when I’m in situations that could backfire. I remind myself to keep my eye on the ball; why am I doing what I’m doing? I want to check-in with my soul and be sure that I haven’t lost sight of my truest passion in life; not just the distractions.

Finally, I don’t need to run from the challenge. I am a physical being. Desire exists to experience life, to experience the textures and tastes, and to learn from a spiritual place, or holistic and balanced perspective. I can dance among the snakes. I can walk on water; the emotional stormy seas of life.

The beautiful thing is we all can! It doesn’t come easy initially, and I’ve tripped along the way. It takes careful observation of oneself, the thoughts and emotions, deciphering their significance, and maintaining a perspective of observer of the experiencer; not from the experiencer perspective. This is a bit of challenge and a fun one at that. It just requires a curious look at oneself frequently. To see yourself as something more, you begin to access more. It’s all in the flow and faith.